WWE SmackDown, 205 Live & MMC Previews – Six Matches Announced

WWE has announced these matches for tonight…

SmackDown

– Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn, with the winner facing AJ Styles at Fastlane
– US Championship: Bobby Roode (c) vs. Rusev
– Charlotte Flair vs. Liv Morgan

205 Live

Two Cruiserweight Championship tournament matches:

– Roderick Strong vs. Hideo Itami
– Kalisto vs. Lince Dorado

Mixed Match Challenge

– Goldust & Mandy Rose vs. Jimmy Uso & Naomi

Full SmackDown preview:

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to battle for a WWE Title opportunity at WWE Fastlane tonight on SmackDown LIVE

SmackDown LIVE ended with fractures beginning to show in the friendship between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Tonight, the two best friends will get a chance to take out their frustrations on each other when they battle for the right to challenge WWE Champion AJ Styles at WWE Fastlane.

The “Yep!” Movement began to tear apart at the seams during a tag team battle pitting Owens & Zayn against Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura. Following their loss to The Phenomenal One at the Royal Rumble event, the two were clearly not on the same page, bickering throughout the bout. After Styles sent Owens crashing into his friend, a fed-up Zayn walked out on the match, leaving KO to fend for himself against the WWE Champion and WWE’s Rockstar, and the bout ended with Owens falling to Nakamura’s devastating Kinshasa knee strike.

After the match, Renee Young approached Zayn in the backstage area and asked him if this was the end of he and Owens’ friendship. Zayn said that it wasn’t, but that this was his time to shine. He declared that after next week, he won’t be known as simply “Kevin Owens’ best friend;” he’ll be known as the guy who beat Kevin Owens and became WWE Champion at WWE Fastlane.

Will Zayn’s predictions come true? Find out when these two best friends collide on SmackDown LIVE, tonight at 8/7 C on USA Network!

Bobby Roode defends the United States Championship against Rusev tonight on SmackDown LIVE

After winning a Fatal 4-Way Match, Rusev has earned the right to challenge United States Champion Bobby Roode tonight on SmackDown LIVE.

The Bulgarian Brute bested Kofi Kingston, Zack Ryder and Jinder Mahal in an action-packed Fatal 4-Way Match last Tuesday to earn the opportunity to face The Glorious One, then immediately rolled out of the ring to stare down Roode, who was at the announce table.

In a video later that night, Rusev declared that their championship showdown would be Roode’s swan song with the star-spangled title. The champion responded by declaring that even though their showdown may fall on Rusev Day, the outcome of the battle will be nothing short of … GLORIOUS!

Who will walk out of SmackDown LIVE with the United States Championship? Find out tonight at 8/7 C on USA Network!

Daniel Bryan to reveal the first-ever SmackDown LIVE Top 10 Superstars List

Last week, Daniel Bryan announced that voting was open to Team Blue’s Superstars for the first-ever SmackDown LIVE Top 10 Superstars List. SmackDown LIVE’s General Manager will reveal the initial rankings tonight on USA Network, giving the roster an idea of where they stand among their peers.

Criteria that SmackDown Superstars needed to consider when voting included locker room leadership, athletic skill and overall talent. No Superstars were allowed to vote for themselves, and neither Bryan nor Commissioner Shane McMahon cast a vote in the rankings.

Who will be among Team Blue’s top 10 competitors?

Charlotte Flair looks for payback against Riott Squad’s Liv Morgan

Last Tuesday on SmackDown LIVE, The Riott Squad ganged up on SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair, subjecting The Queen to a 3-on-1 beatdown that left her vulnerable to an attempted cash-in by Ms. Money in the Bank, Carmella.

Though The Princess of Staten Island didn’t succeed in cashing in and taking the title (though she still has the guaranteed title opportunity), while Flair is on the hunt for retribution on The Riott Squad. Her quest for payback begins tonight, when she faces Liv Morgan.

Will The Queen make Morgan pay for last week’s attack, or will The Riott Squad make good on their promise that Flair won’t make it to WrestleMania? Find out on SmackDown LIVE, tonight at 8/7 C on USA Network!